Apparatus for recovering fluids by adsorption



Oct. 3, 1939. L. A. LOGAN 2,174,666

APPAI'RATUS FOR RECOVERING mums a? ADSORPTION Filed Aug. 51, 1957 INVENTOR LEONARD A. LOGAN ATTORNE l mex Patented Oct. 3, 193 r 2,174,666

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2,174,666 APPARATUS FOR. nncovnnme FLS BY psonrrron Leonard A. Logan, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation, a corporation of New York Application August 31, 1937, Serial No. 161,734

Claims. (01. 183-4) The invention relates to adsorption apparatus, interior structure of an adsorber vessel in a manparticularly to improved equipment for recoverner fully protecting the vessel walls from coring fluid components from mixtures thereof with rosion by the steam and adsorbed vapor mixture, air or other gases by means of a solid adsorbent and preventing Wetting of the adsorbent bed or 5 material. Ina preferred embodiment the strucany, portion thereof by condensate within the ture is especially adapted for use with activated container vessel.

carbon, although the invention is not limited The manner of accomplishing these objects,

with respect to the nature of the adsorbent. and other novel features of the invention will be Separation and recovery of fluids by adsorpapparent from a description of the accompanying tion is shown in various forms in the prior art. drawing, in which:

A common type of adsorber structure consists of Fig. 1 is a longitudinal mid-section through an a container vessel, usually of metal, provided with adsorber embodying the features of this invention; a layer or bed of solid adsorbent through which J and fluid mixtures to be treated are forced to pass Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of when introduced into the container. The ad- Fig. l. 15 sorbed vapors are recovered by periodically heat- Essential elements of the structure as shown ing the adsorbent when its adsorptive capacity comprise a cylindrical closed contain-er vessel S, has been substantially reached, and where actiwithin which there is supported the frame or vated carbon serves as the adsorbent, heating or basket B in the general form of a hollow square revivifying of the carbon is usually effected by and extending longitudinal through the larger 20 passing steam in direct contact therewith. A portion of the container. A solid granular adpractical application of such apparatus is found sorbent A, preferably of activated carbon is conin many industries wherein a volatile solvent matained Within and throughout the entire length terial becomes dlfiused in the air through evapoof the basket B. The supply conduit 0 for fluid ration, and recovery of the'solvent therefrom is mixtures to be treated extends through the wall 25 desirable for economical or other reasons. of the vessel S and terminates inside the basket In solvent recovery from air very large volumes B, and a discharge D for denuded air or vapor of gas must be treated, requiring provision for provides passage from the space about the outer contacting the air mixture with large bed areas part of the basket B through the wall of the vesof adsorbent material. With prior structures sel. The inner and outer adsorbent retaining 30 this has necessitated apparatus of excessive and walls of the basket Bare composed almost entirely uneconomical size, or the employment of a pluof a foraminous material, and the adsorbent A rality of adsorber units. The fluid being reforms a partition through which all gases must covered is also often corrosive in nature to the pass in traversing the adsorber vessel. Means as ordinary steel structure of the adsorber-vessel, and for steaming .the adsorbent to remove adsorbed the .vapor mixture or condensate evolved on material are provided by thesteam inlet H with steaming of the adsorbent will generally cause its inner terminal outside of the basket, and the excessive corrosion if allowed to contact with the steam outlet 0 for taking off the steam-vapor container walls. When an adsorbent such as mixture from the space within the basket B. activated carbon is employed, which is adversely Thus the steam fiow is in the reverse direction 40 affected in adsorptive capacity by presence of through the adsorbent to the travel of the gas moisture, wetting of the adsorbent bed by conduring the adsorption cycle, and the steam-vapor densate on steaming must be avoided for best mixture is taken ofl" entirely out of contact with efficiency, and segregationof moisture in portions the inner Walls of the container vessel. only of the adsorbent is particularly undesirable, With reference to the further structural details 45 since this reduces the efiective adsorptive capacity the shell S is preferably of steel, and comprises a of the entire adsorbent bed. cylindrical portion 15 to the ends of which are It is an object of the present invention to avoid welded convex head sections I6 and "respectively the above-mentioned difficulties, one or more of to complete the closed vessel. The adsorber as which are quite commonly encountered in known shown is positioned with its longitudinal axis in 50 adsorption apparatus. A further object is to a horizontal plane, although in use, and with provide an adsorber structure of improved elfivery slight modifications, the adsorber will funcciency in its ability to treat largevolumes of gas tion equally well in either a horizontal or verwithin a given and reasonable size of apparatus tical position. A series of flanged nozzles I8, Another object concerns the arrangement of the welded into openings at the top of the container, 55

channel members.

and normally closed by covers l9, provide means for supplying adsorbent material such as activated carbon to the basket B. Flanged manhole nozzles 20 and 2| are welded respectively into the bottom of the vessel and the center of the convex head section I1, and are normally closed by covers 22 and 23. The supply conduit C extends through the head section l6 axially of the container S and terminates in a central opening in a transverse-square plate 24 which forms one end of the basket B. The discharge conduit D for unadsorbed gases is welded into the opposite head section II.

The transverse square plate 24, and an oppositely disposed one 25 form fluid-tight vertical end connections to the basket B and prevent fluid flow within the adsorber other than in a path directly through the adsorbent bed. Foraminous support members comprise an inner unit 26 and an outer unit 21 uniformly spaced from each other a sufficient distance to provide the adsorbent bed thickness desired. Each unit comprises four frames extending longitudinally of the shell between the plates 24 and 25 and joined along their longitudinal edges, the respective frames of the inner andouter units being parallel. Thus, a central space 28 rectangular in cross-section is partitioned off from the rest of the container vessel and that portion thereof lying outside of the unit 21.

Each frame of the outer unit 21 comprises a series of bars 30 having their ends welded to longitudinal channel members 3|, and a foraminous plate 32 supported by the inner sides of the bars 30 and attached to the channel members 3| by means of longitudinal bars 33 fastened to the The channel members 3| are welded to longitudinal angles 34 which have their legs welded along the inside of the shell S. The outer units are preferably made in sections which may contain, for instance, five bars each, and the longitudinal angles 34, may be provided in lengths sufficient to accommodate each section, the lengths being spaced from each other by a fraction of an inch. Any moisture condensing upon the shell may, therefore flow downwardly between the angles without collecting in the V formed between the angles and the channel 3|, and without contacting with the adsorbent bed. The foraminous plate 32 is preferably continuous between the transverse square plates 24 and 25.

Similarly, the frames of the inner unit 26 are formed of a series of bars 35. Each of these bars has its ends welded to longitudinal angles 36 which are in turn welded to connecting angles 31, which hold the frames of the unit together. The ends of the connecting angles 31 are welded to the transverse square plates 24 and 25, and foraminous plate members 38 are attached to the outer sides of the bars 35 of the inner unit completing the construction.

The channels alo'ng'the upper part of the outer frame 21 are welded to bent plates 39 and 40,

which are in turn welded in spaced relation along the upper part of the shell S, on eitherside of the flanged nozzles l8. Accordingly, granular adsorbent material supplied at this point will drop between the plates 39 and 40 and will fill the chamber 29-between the foraminous plate members 38 and the corresponding members 32.

All parts of the basket member B and its associated structural supports are preferably of light weight and of a metal of low heat capacity, so that when the steaming cycle is initiated these parts rapidly attain steam temperature and proant metal, so that substantially no corrosion is.

encountered in any part of the adsorber apparatus by any steam-vapor mixture or condensate. Ready removal and replacement of all or part of the basket structure is possible, providing a further advantage in case of failure of any portion of the interior structure.

This particular arrangement of the adsorbent bed, which is preferably of granular activated carbon, also provides a total bed area considerably in excess of that usually employed in an individual adsorber unit, thereby providing a much greater gas treating volume per unit size of adsorber vessel than has heretofore been possible. Improved efiiciency resultsin the complete adsorber system, particularly in applications for solvent recovery from air or in other capacities where large gas volumes must be handled.

Modifications in the particular structure shown will be apparent within the scope of the invention, and other embodiments of the principles here involved many suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The invention should not be limited other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adsorber for removing solvent vapors from mixtures thereof with air, said adsorber comprising a horizontally disposed closed container vessel, abed of activated carbon adsorbent in said vessel, means including a corrosion-resistant foraminous basket of a longitudinally extending hollow square structure for supporting said bed, support means at the corners of said basket and at the ends thereof adapted to restrict fluid flow in the adsorber to a path through said adsorbent, and fluid inlet and exit means adapted to prevent contact of evolved vapor mixtures on steaming with the inner walls of said vessel.

2. An adsorber for removing solvent vapors from mixtures thereof with air, said adsorber comprising a horizontally disposed closed container vessel, a bed of activated carbon'adsorbent in said vessel, means including a corrosion-resistant foraminous basket of a longitudinally extending hollow square structure for supporting said bed,'detachable support means at the corners of said basket and at the ends thereof adapted to 3: man adsorber apparatus, the combination of a horizontal cylindrical container vessel, a bed of activated carbon adsorbent in said vessel, means including parallel spaced foraminous members forming a longitudinally extending hollow square basket structure for confining said adsorbent about a free central space, end support plates attached to said basket and closing the ends of said central space to fluid flow, corner supports for said basket including angle members attaching the same to the inner wall of the container vessel in a position maintaining each side of said basket at substantially an angle 45 degrees to the vertical axis of said container, inlet means for introducing vapor to be adsorbed to the central space within said basket, exit means for removing unadsorbed vapors from the exterior of said basket, and steam. inlet and exit means in the reverse position to the aforesaid inlet and exit means.

i 4. In an adsorber apparatus for removing solvent vapors from air, the combination of a horizontal cylindrical container, a bed of activated carbon adsorbent in' said vessel, parallel spaced corrosion-resistantreadily detachable foraminous members forming a longitudinally extending hollow square basket structure throughout a substantial portion of said vessel and confining said adsorbent about a free central space, vertical end removing denuded support plates attached to said basket and closing the ends of said central space to fluid flow, longitudinally disposed readily detachable corner supports for said basket including angle members attaching the same to the inner wall of said vessel in a position maintaining each side of said basket at substantially an angle of degrees to the vertical axis of said container, inlet means for introducing air-vapor mixture directly to the central space within said basket, exit means for air from the exterior of said .in a position'maintaining each basket, and steam inlet and exit means in the reverse position to the aforesaid air inlet and exit means, whereby the mixture of steam and adsorbed vapor is prevented from contacting with the Wall of the container vessel.

5. In an adsorber apparatus for removing solvent vapors from air, the combination of a horizontal cylindrical container, a bed of activated carbon adsorbent in said vessel, parellel spaced corrosion-resistant readily detachable foraminous members forming a longitudinally extending hollow square basket structure throughout a substantial portion of said vessel and confining said adsorbent about a free central space, vertical end support plates attached to said basket and closing the ends of said central space to fluid flow, longitudinaliy disposed readily detachable corner supports for said basket including angle members attaching the same to the inner wall of said vessel, side of said basket at substantially an angle of 45 degrees to the ver-' tical axis of said container, spaced filler openings .inthe'top of said container communicating with the upper corner of saidbasket, inlet means for introducing air-vapor mixture directly to the central space within said basket, exit means for removing denuded air from the exterior of said basket, and steam inlet and exit means in the reverse position to the aforesaid air inlet and exit means, whereby the mixture of steam and adsorbed vapor is prevented from contacting with the wall of the container vessel.

LEonARDA. LOG 

